Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has defended goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario forward of their residence recreation in opposition to Bournemouth within the Premier League on Sunday.
Vicario reacted angrily and gesticulated in the direction of Spurs followers within the stadium following their 1-0 defeat away to AZ Alkmaar within the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie on Thursday.
However regardless of his feelings getting the higher of him, Postecoglou made it clear that he had his full help.
“Vic could be very, very keen about this soccer membership and what we try to do right here. He needs to win and he needs everybody on board with that,” stated Postecoglou.
“If individuals assume there’s a foul bone in his physique then they don’t know him like I do. He is among the purest human beings you possibly can come throughout and he needs what’s finest for this workforce as a result of he cares.”
The loss within the Netherlands was a seventh defeat in 12 matches in all competitions for Spurs, who’re presently thirteenth within the Premier League desk. Postecoglou, then, is focusing on improved performances on Sunday.
“It’s about consistency and efficiency, not about elevating our worst stage,” he stated.
“There are other ways of tackling these challenges and ensuring that, on the naked minimal, we compete and get the baseline performances up.”
Again in Premier League motion
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Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola, in the meantime, was stuffed with reward for his or her opposition on Sunday.
“At any time when they’re taking part in nicely they’re tough to cease. It’s true that they’ve had completely different video games, video games the place they’ve performed very well, video games the place they haven’t been pretty much as good. It is a place the place if you wish to get a end result it’s a must to be excellent,” he stated.
Going into the sport, there may be doubt in regards to the health of Scotland worldwide Ryan Christie, who has been struggling with a groin damage.
“I believe it’s one thing power. He’s coping with some ache and I believe it’s a state of affairs that we should handle day-to-day,” stated Iraola.
“I’m not ruling him out but additionally I belief Ryan rather a lot. He is aware of his physique. It’s not a simple state of affairs to take care of in the course of the season. In all probability he wants some relaxation however clearly he needs to proceed taking part in and this can be a state of affairs we’ve got to proceed coping with.”
“We are going to proceed to take care of it. We’re in all probability excited about surgical procedure or one thing like this and it’s higher for everybody if it’s in the summertime. However I’m not Ryan Christie and he has to see how he feels, if he can play or can’t play, selections with the physician, however he’s fairly good at managing it.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tottenham Hotspur – Dejan Kulusevski
Kulusevski travels with the ball on common 13.5 metres per carry within the Premier League this season, probably the most of any of the 44 gamers to have not less than 300 carries this time period.
The Swede comes into this with 11 objective contributions within the Premier League this season (seven objectives, 4 assists), together with a objective in opposition to Ipswich City in his most up-to-date begin.
Bournemouth – Justin Kluivert
Kluivert is Bournemouth’s high scorer with 12 league objectives this season, together with two hat-tricks away from residence.
Solely Mohamed Salah (16) has scored extra away objectives within the Premier League this season than Kluivert (10), with the Dutchman’s 10 objectives on the highway probably the most ever by a Bournemouth participant in a single top-flight marketing campaign.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Spurs have misplaced seven Premier League residence video games this season, which is their joint-most in a 38-game season within the competitors (stage with 1996-97), whereas solely in 1993-94 have they misplaced extra (9).
However conversely, Bournemouth have misplaced three of their final 4 Premier League video games, which is as many as that they had of their earlier 18 (W10 D5).
Solely Crystal Palace (-7.1) have underperformed their non-penalty xG determine by greater than Bournemouth (-5.4) within the Premier League this season (44.4 xG, 39 objectives).
The Cherries are unbeaten of their final 10 league matches when having a better non-penalty xG determine than their opponent (W7 D3) however have misplaced their final three when having a decrease determine.
Tottenham have received six of their seven Premier League residence video games in opposition to Bournemouth, with the exception being a 3-2 loss in April 2023, however following their 1-0 win on the Vitality Stadium in December, Bournemouth want to full their first ever league double over Spurs.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Tottenham Hotspur – 37.1%
Draw – 24.4%
Aston Villa – 38.5%